1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

I am writing as your constituent to urge your support for the Public Lands Integrity Act (S. 4455/HR 9167). This legislation is critical for protecting our state's interests and our shared federal lands. Our state is home to millions acres of public lands, including National Parks, national forests, and wildlife refuges that form the backbone of our outdoor economy. These lands support hunting, fishing, hiking, and tourism industries that generate billions in economic activity and sustain countless rural communities and small businesses. Once lost, these lands and the economic benefits they provide cannot be replaced. The Public Lands Integrity Act prevents Congress from selling or disposing of federal public lands through budget reconciliation, a procedural process never intended for land management decisions. A year ago, some members of Congress attempted exactly this to fund budget priorities, but public outcry stopped it. Without this bill, the threat will return. As a conservative, you understand the importance of stable rules and deliberative processes. This bill protects those principles. It prevents any future Congress, regardless of party, from using budget gimmicks to make sweeping land decisions that bypass public input and debate. This is good governance and fiscal responsibility. The bill has strong bipartisan support, including backing from hunters, anglers, ranchers, veterans, and conservation organizations who depend on public lands. These are constituents who value the predictability and access these lands provide. Sportsmen's organizations and outdoor recreation advocates recognize that our state's economic future is tied to protecting these resources. This legislation doesn't prevent legitimate land management decisions; it simply ensures they are made transparently with full debate, as they should be. The procedural safeguard respects the deliberative process our democracy depends on. I urge you to co-sponsor the Public Lands Integrity Act and vote for its passage. Protecting our state's public lands is protecting our economy, our heritage, and our constituents' way of life.